Makeup & nails

What industry insiders want for Mother's Day

Rodial founder Maria Hatzistefanis, the Chantecaille family, Aerin Lauder and seven other beauty and fashion industry insiders discuss what they plan to give—and what they're hoping to receive—this Mother's Day.

Aerin Lauder

Aerin Lauder, founder and creative director of AERIN

"On Mother’s Day, the most important thing I could ever have is time together with my family. I’d love to be at home with my husband and boys, and receive a beautiful bouquet of fresh spring flowers. I love to give a fragrance—it’s so tied up with memories of being a little girl and smelling my mother’s perfume. The AERIN Fragrance Collection is a modern fragrance wardrobe allowing a woman to escape, be playful and experience something different with each scent—she can choose her favourite or change it up each day."

Maria Hatzistefanis, founder of Rodal

"I would buy my mum a facial and a massage as she would never book these for herself and get her pampered for a day. I would love anything from the Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite travel range, I am obsessed with a carry-on I bought last year, it’s super stylish and would love to add a wash bag or vanity case."

Vanessa Craft, editor-in-chief of ELLE Canada

"The most luxurious gift anyone can ever give me is that of time. And if there is no time machine available to give me an extra 3 hours of sleep, I’ll take a facial at the Four Seasons Spa, Toronto. My current fave is the Gold Plumping Facial (because, obviously), which uses an anti-inflammatory gold serum to soothe stressed skin and to boost repair. My fave part is the eye massage to help depuff using chilled “dermaglobes”. It’s 90 minutes of much needed bliss. Post treatment, I’d love to slip these Eberjay jammies on—I discovered these a few years ago and restock every year. Soft and silky cotton that still keep me looking put together even if I don’t get dressed until noon."

Four Seasons Facial (prices vary; for Mother's Day specials, contact the Four Seasons Spa Toronto), at fourseasons.com, Eberjay Gisele PJ Set ($164), at shopbop.com.

From left: Olivia, Sylvie and Alex Chantecaille

Sylvie Chantecaille, founder of Chantecaille

"This year I just want a really nice lunch with my family in the sunshine under a tree in my garden—I can never have enough flowers! It would be really fun to get a totally unexpected piece of clothing. Maybe a cool pair of sneakers—something I would never buy for myself. I’m hoping someone will bring me back honey from Kenya from our friends at the Save the Elephants foundation. The smell, the taste, the richness, and the variety of the plants make it the best honey in the world!"

Alex Chantecaille, vice-president of sales and promotion for Chantecaille

"I would gift a Medicine Reading from Mama Medicine. Deborah is a really lovely spirit—she does a shamanistic healing with crystals on your chakras as you lay on a bio mat, she plays these gorgeous crystal bowls providing a deep healing sound bath, clearing your aura. It’s very powerful and healing, and she sells beautiful crystals and natural beauty products and oils. For those who can’t make it to her healing space in SoHo she offers Skype readings! My Medicine Reading gift would go with an amethyst water bottle for Wellness from Vita Juwel."

Olivia Chantecaille, creative director for Chantecaille

"This Mother’s Day, I’m asking for an elephant orphan to be fostered in my name through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. It’s a wildlife haven in Kenya that does incredible work on a ground level to protect elephants that are in grave danger from poaching and other threats. Proceeds from our Mermaid Matte Eye Trio this season are being donated to them and two other innovative conservation charities run by women in Africa.

Olivia von Halle’s luxurious silk pajamas are my favorite to sleep in. They feel divine and the colors are so beautiful, I particularly love the new zebra pattern. It’s so fun!. The styles are so chic that I can throw on a blazer and heels and wear them out to dinner.

I am gifting my mother, Sylvie, a diamond encrusted pendant that I designed in collaboration with the fine jewelry company Walter’s Faith. It’s a capsule collection of iconic rose-gold cosmetic compacts bejeweled with pink sapphires, amethysts, champagne and white diamonds that open to reveal mini mirrors inside, on rose-gold chains. They were inspired by our best selling HD compacts. I think it’s a lovely reminder her of all she has accomplished in business and as a mother. It’s simple enough to wear everyday but can be dressed up for evenings out. My mother-in-law adores the outdoors. I think she will love our new Le Wild fragrance—a modern green floral bursting with the intoxicating scent of wild gardenia. It has fresh floral notes of Brazilian gardenia and Casablanca lily, and warms up on the skin with a touch of amber. It is a beautiful ode to being in the wild surrounded by the greens of the world’s forests."

Grace Lee, Lead Artist for Maybelline New York

"With smart phones, pictures just seem to just stay in my phone or go up on social media, but my mom isn't that tech savvy [so she doesn't see them]. I think she would love it if I took the time to print out a bunch of pictures of her grandkids. Perhaps get some framed and also make a photo book. For me, what I'd love to receive is a day of pampering at the spa. Facial, massage, manicure and pedicure—basically, the works! But breakfast in bed would do just fine too."

Amy Burstyn Fritz, President of Burstyn Inc.

"My mother is my mentor, best friend, and now business partner, since launching our communications agency, Burstyn Inc. With all the excitement around the new company, and also being a new mom myself, Mother's Day feels extra special this year, so I wanted to give her a present that provides a memory of this time. I've enlisted top family photographer, Lauren Lawrence Photography, to shoot a mother-daughter portrait series out of her Toronto-based studio—complete with framed prints, of course!"

Helen Burstyn, Principal at Burstyn Inc.

"My best Mother's Day gift is spending time with my daughters and granddaughters. Our Mother's Day photo shoot gives me that, plus great pictures to remember and re-live the day."

Katherine Flemming, health and beauty editor at ELLE Canada

"This Mother’s Day, I’d swoon over the stackable Catbird NYC Alphabet Ring in a G (my son’s name is Gavin), X and O. To amplify the indulgence of what should be a national holiday, I’d love a day away from my responsibilities as a Mum (love you G, but gimme space)—I could spend hours at the Shangri-La maxing out in the Miraj Hamman spa, circuiting between the private cabanas by the pool and the steamy Hammam rooms."

Miranda Esmonde-White, creator of the fitness technique Essentrics

“On Mother's Day, Sahra and I always have crepes and a healthy smoothie and chill for the afternoon catching up with each other’s lives. It is a real treat just to be able to relax and not worry about the clock!”

Sahra Esmonde-White, co-owner and CEO of Essentrics

“Mother's Day is about understanding what makes your mom happy, what makes her feel the most relaxed and then making sure you give her that special day. My mom loves to lounge over an elegant meal, take her time and enjoy the moment without pressure. Her favorites would either be afternoon tea at the Ritz-Carlton, or my home-cooked vegan crepes, fruit and a veggie dish all served on my late grandmother’s flowery china set. I like to feel that she is present too!”

Morgan Curtis and Jill Stuart.Image by: Instagram

Jill Stuart, designer

“My daughters always buy me my favorite flowers, peonies, and take me out to brunch at Sant Ambroeus. They make Mother’s Day so special!”

Morgan Curtis, lingerie designer

“Ever since I was a little girl I remember seeing my mom wear the most fabulous robes around the house. I wanted to make her feel super special this year by creating the “Mom" robe in her honor. Now she can wear our classic vanilla silk robe with her name in a heart embroidered on the chest!”

Rebecca Taylor, designer

"I like to celebrate with my family and spend the day together. This year we’ll be going to museums in the city. I always give my mum flowers. For me, a good gift is a treat you would never give yourself, like a massage. And not just a voucher... organized child care and an appointment. A good gift is Anything that makes your mum feel extra special."